Question Hitting LA in April, looking for places to visit

[dumbo2007]

Hey guys,

So I ll be in glendale after april for a few months. Anyone from california here ? I need suggestions on places to see or drive around. Here is what I have already planned :

Vegas !!! yeah
Grand Canyon
Universal Studios tour
Hollywood
Live shooting of Big Bang Theory
Heard there is horse riding somewhere closeby too

I am really looking forward to visiting JPL and pasadena (JPL in pasadena ?)

what else ?

 

[MaverickSawyer]

Well, you should visit the California Science Center, which has an aerospace exhibit; there's the San Diego Air and Space Museum; Mojave Aerospaceport, which has a lot of history in R&D work; the Palm Springs Air Museum; and a few others in the area that may not be well known.

 

[dumbo2007]

Awesome !! that should pack my weekends. Is there an observatory close by too ?

I am looking to get a good telescope too

 

[Codz]

I believe April is when Endeavour gets shipped out that way.

 

[dumbo2007]

Oh wow!! Have to take a good look at that .

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hmm...so I see it will be in downtown LA
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/46724124/ns/technology_and_science-space/

 

[mbartley]

I believe April is when Endeavour gets shipped out that way.

Mid-September, according to that MSNBC article:

Nearby in OPF-2, Endeavour is being readied for its flight in mid-September to Los Angeles. The California Science Center will soon begin construction of an aircraft hangar to temporarily exhibit Endeavour while the museum's Air and Space Center is erected. The interim hangar will be located near downtown Los Angeles, northwest of the Science Center.

 

[Andy44]

Awesome !! that should pack my weekends. Is there an observatory close by too ?

I am looking to get a good telescope too

Griffith Observatory is up in the hills by the famous Hollywood sign. If you have an afternoon to kill, it's worth a visit, but I wouldn't go too far out of my way to see it. There is an active solar telescope in operation there in one of the domes, and the other dome has an older optical scope that is open for tours at night, I think. There is a gift shop, but I think that's not the best place to buy a good telescope, it's mostly tourist junk.

http://www.griffithobs.org/

The architecture is really cool art deco, and in the front yard is a monument to Newton, Gallieleo, Kepler, etc., which also stand at the center of a map of the Solar system which is carved into the walkway pavement.

 

[ED_4]

Hey guys,

So I ll be in glendale after april for a few months. Anyone from california here ? I need suggestions on places to see or drive around. Here is what I have already planned :

Live shooting of Big Bang Theory


I am really looking forward to visiting JPL and pasadena (JPL in pasadena ?)

Live shooting of Big Bang Theory? :rofl:If that were truly possible to make it real we all wouldn't be in here. For in order for that to happen all matter would have to cease to exist everywhere.

I think you'll need a Time Lord for that to even actually happen.

And on your other question on the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Yes, it is in Pasadena.

And we'll welcome you to California. The most populated state in the entire United States.

 

[Cras]

You are really seeing a live shooting of Big Bang Theory?

Have fun. And bring something to read. You will spend some time in the holding bin before being led into the lot.

 

[mojoey]

If you want to venture into the Valley, head over to the Chino Planes of Fame

 

[Cras]

you ever been to Ribs USA?

 

[dumbo2007]

Have fun. And bring something to read. You will spend some time in the holding bin before being led into the lot.

hehe, yeah I have never been to a live shooting before, so thought it might be interesting. I heard that people are forced to laugh at all the retakes too and that kinda sux !!

Ribs USA

Just lov barbeque !!:thumbup: Thanks, will check it out for dinner. What other good restaurants closeby. I ll probably be in Barham blvd, hope there are loads of eateries close by

Ah I see Chino has WW2 planes too. The area seems to be a hotbed of aviation enthusiasts ! Will check out the airshow for sure

That reminds me, I heard that they have sky diving in CA, anyone knows where ?

Will check out Griffith Observatory, hope the road to it passes right in front of the Hollywood sign

So where is the local watering hole ....where people meet up and stuff . Is there a local orbiter group ?

So can JPL be visited by outsiders or are students of Caltech alone, are allowed in ?

 

[ED_4]

That reminds me, I heard that they have sky diving in CA, anyone knows where ?

They're all over the place. You just have to pick one close to where you're staying.

 

[Tex]

Rent a bike and ride the fabulous mountain roads they have..

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ecD9-r5eYsI"]Descending Tioga Pass - YouTube[/ame]


Or rent a mountain bike and hit the trails.

 

[dumbo2007]

They're all over the place. You just have to pick one close to where you're staying.

great !

Rent a bike and ride the fabulous mountain roads they have

Nice ! I used to bike a lot in Europe where they have separate bike roads n stuff. Are there separate roads for bikers in the US too or its shared with the car traffic ?

 

[Tex]

Some roads having biking lanes and I know there are some bike only trails, but usually you share the road with cars.

 

[Cras]

the road up to Griffith park will not take you past the Hollywood sign. And do please stay out of the neighborhoods there. There really is no way to drive to it, and those that live up in the hills hate the tourists that wander up there. The roads are very tight and it is very easy to get lost up there.

Once you are at the observatory at Griffith park, just walk to your right. And you will see it. Great view of the sign, take pictures! Great view of LA from up there too.

Another great place to visit, the Getty Museum. Amazing place.

 

[dumbo2007]

ok, yeah I will be staying north east of griffith park in west glenoaks blvd. I think griffith park will be walking distance from there. Nice place to go running !

By Getty Museum you mean this one ? : http://g.co/maps/xvqs4

Google tells there are private/restricted roads to driving up to the museum. Is it possible to drive to some point close by ?

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ok got a few sky diving options :

http://www.skydivesantabarbara.com/ they promise a view of the pacific too
http://www.skydiving.com/service-area/CA/Los-Angeles-County/91201/skydiving-Glendale.html

gotta find the cheapest one

 

[Cras]

That is the one.

The Getty Museum is actually build on the side of a cliff. There is a parking garage, if you follow the signs for the Museum it takes you right to it. You pay for parking, but that is it. Admission to the Museum is free. You then take a tram up to the actual museum. it is an architectual marvel I think. An amazing place. And they have some great works of art to boot.

Take the 405, and follow the signs. The garage is right off the highway.

 

[ED_4]

Oh one other thing I just remembered that you should try to visit, if you got the time. Is to try to go and visit [ame=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hearst_Castle]Hearst Castle[/ame].

That's not so much a true castle as in the medieval times, but it's quite a work of art, owned originally by the American business magnate [ame=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Randolph_Hearst]William Randolph Hearst[/ame]. It's quite a marvel and situated around the coastal hills of San Simeon.

And if you should go and choose to visit it, go and call them for reservations for a tour. It's not a place that you can really just walk up there and tour without one.